Cured tobacco leaf stripper

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for stripping leaves from the stalks of cured tobacco comprised of a pair of guide rollers, a pair of wiper blades assemblies and a pair of fluted rollers. Each wiper blade assembly has a pluralty of blades, and each blade has a semicircular notch in the center of its wiper edge. The blade assemblies are synchronized with each other&#39;&#39;s rotational velocity and position so that when two blades, one from each assembly, mate in the center of the two assemblies and semicircular notches form a circle. The tobacco stalk with leaves is introduced into the apparatus tip first through the guide rollers which guide the stalk tip into the notches of the blades in the counter-revolving wiper assemblies. As the stalk and leaves enter the area described by the notches in the wiper blades the leaves are severed from the stalk. As the stalk passes through the wiper blade assembly it is grasped by the rotating fluted rollers and drawn through the defoliating stage after which it is ejected from the apparatus. The guide rollers and wiper blade assemblies have cantilevered supports to allow for variances in stalk diameters while the fluted rollers are provided with bearing and track means for that purpose.

United States Patent 91 Morrison, Jr. et al.

[.4 1 Oct. 16, 1973 CURED TOBACCO LEAF STRIPPER [75] Inventors: John E. Morrison, Jr., Elmon E.

[73] Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture [22] Filed: June 23, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 266,023

[52] US. Cl 131/131, 131/146,130/31R [51] Int. Cl. A24b 05/04 [58] Field of Search 131/120, 131, 146; 130/31 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 46,031 1/1865 Sellers: 130/31 R 694,962 3/1902 Havens 131/131 697,511 4/1902 Mayo.... 131/146 720,802 2/1908 Havens.. 130/31 R UX 1,518,349 12/1924 Olson. 130/31 R 2,574,030 11/1951 Green l3l/l3l 2,962,029 11/1960 McCashen... 131/131 3,424,612 l/l969 Miller 130/31 R X Primary Examiner-Joseph S. Reich Att0rneyR. Hoffman et a1.

[5 7 ABSTRACT An apparatus for stripping leaves from the stalks of cured tobacco comprised of a pair of guide rollers, a pair of wiper blades assemblies and a pair of fluted rollers. Each wiper blade assembly has a pluralty of blades, and each blade has a semicircular notch in the center of its wiper edge. The blade assemblies are synchronized with each others rotational velocity and position so that when two blades, one from each assembly, mate in the center of the two assemblies and semicircular notches form a circle. The tobacco stalk with leaves is introduced into the apparatus tip first through the guide rollers which guide the stalk tip into 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PMFNTED [MIT 16 I975 SHEET 2 BF 2 GUIDE CONVEYOR) FlG.3b

CURED TOBACCO LEAF STRIPPER A non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free license in the invention herein described, throughout the world for all purposes of the United States Government, with the power to grant sublicenses for such purposes, is hereby granted to the Government of the United States of America.

This invention relates to a device for the automatic removal of leaves, intact, from previously harvested and cured tobacco plants.

This invention discloses a mechanism capable of guiding and drawing into its defoliating region a previously cured stalk of tobacco initially oriented such that the natural terminal points of the tobacco leaves are directed toward the inward movement provided by the initial components of the device. The actual defoliation is then provided by a plurality of rotating, notched wipers or vanes which impact a wiping force against, and in opposition to, the region where the tobacco leaf is naturally joined to the stalk of the plant. Thus, complete removal of the leaf from the stalk is insured. Terminally, the device, by means of rotating fluted rollers, draws the tobacco stalk from the mechanism proper and ejects said defoliated stalk for removal.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide by a simple, easily operable wiping means, and means whereby leaves may be removed from a cured tobacco plant.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a unique defoliating assembly which is structurally simple, easily operated and economically maintained.

These and other object of the present invention will become more apparent during the course of the following mechanical and operational description and drawmgs.

The invention may best be understood with reference to the accompaning drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the moving parts only and illustrates the mechanical and operational functions of the cured tobacco stripper.

FIG. 2 is a schematic top view showing the optional conveyor feeding a stalk of cured tobacco to the defoliating device and the path followed by a cured specimen of tobacco stalk as it is processed.

FIG. 3a is a side view of a wiper assembly exemplifying its basic and essential geometries.

FIG. 3b is anenlarged fragmentary side view of the wiper blades of opposing wiper assemblies in the position shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the opposing wiper blades administering the required wiping strokes to defoliate cured leaves from the tobacco stalk.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a cured tobacco leaf stripper, generally indicated at 10, embodying the principles of the present invention.

Rotary power isprovided by which may be an electric motor, a suitable gasoline engine -or other source of power. The rotary movement provided by 15 is distributed to sheave 50 by shaft 15a which is integral to the mechanism 15. As indicated by the directional arrows, belt 60, actuated by engagement with sheave 50, causes the main driven sheave 51, which is affixed to the main drive shaft 37, to rotate in a clockwise direction as indicated by the directional arrow. Main drive gear 45 affixed to main drive shaft 37 engages main driven gear 44 affixed to shaft 36, and causes gear 44 and its related shaft 36 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by the directional arrows. Sheave 76 affixed to main drive shaft 37, and rotating in the aforementioned clockwise direction, is engaged by belt which in turn engages sheave 74 affixed to shaft 31. Thus shaft 31 having guide roller 21 affixed to it is caused to rotate in a clockwise direction. As previously noted shaft 36 rotates in a counterclockwise direction as a result of the function of gears 45 and 44. Thus sheave 77 affixed to shaft 36 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction. Sheave 77 is engaged by belt 71 which also engages sheave affixed to shaft 30. Thus shaft 30 having guide roller 20 affixed to it rotates in a counter-clockwise direction. Thus powered guide rollers 20 and 21 rotate toward each other as is indicated in FIG. 1 by the directional arrows. An alternative means of powering the guide rollers would be to rotate shafts 30 and 31 by drive belt connections to shafts 34 and 35.

Member 58 affixed to main drive shaft 37 may be a sprocket for use with a roller chain or a sheave for use with a positive-drive or non-slip belt. Thus 58 is engaged by power transmission element 64 which may be, relative to 58, a roller chain, positive-drive or non-slip belt. Power transmission element 64 then engages 42 which may be, relative to 64 and 58, a sprocket or appropriate sheave and rotates shaft 32 in a clockwise direction. Thus, wiper assembly L affixed to shaft 32 rotates in a clockwise direction.

Member 56 affixed to drive shaft 36 may also be a sprocket for use with a roller chain or a sheave for use with a positive-drive or non-slip belt. Thus 56 is engaged by power transmission element 63 which may be, relative to 56, a roller chain, positive-drive or non-slip belt. Power transmission element 63 then engages 42a which may be, relative to 56 and 63, a sprocket or appropriate sheave and rotates shaft 33 in a counterclockwise direction. Thus, wiper assembly R affixed to shaft 33 rotates in a counterclockwise direction. Through the power transmission components just described, wiper assemblies L and R are synchronized with main drive shafts 37 and 36, respectively, and thus with each others rotational velocity and position. As indicated by the directional arrows, L AND R rotate in opposition to eachother.

The guide roller and wiper blade assemblies just described are supported by spring loaded cantilevers 81 and 83'which are pivotally mounted at 85 and 87 to frame 99 which, for the sake of clarity in the drawing and because the frame can be structured in a number of alternate ways without changing the inventive concept, is shown only in outline. The left members of each pair, that is, the left wiper blade assembly L and the left guide roller 20 are supported by cantilever 81 through appropriate conventional connecting means such as ball bearing connections with shafts 32 and 30, respectively. The right member of eachpair, that is, the right wiper blade assembly R and the right guide. roller 21 are supported by cantilever 83 through appropriate conventional connecting means with shafts 33 and 31, respectively. The guide rollers are supported from the terminal ends of the cantilevers while the wiper blade assemblies are supported from a point about two-thirds of the distance from the pivot points to the terminal ends of the cantilevers. The type of mounting of the guide rollers and wiper blade assemblies just described allows the rollers and wipers to move apart for passage of tobacco stalks larger than the size of the opening made when opposing blades mate as shown in FIG. 3b.

Fluted rollers 24 and 25 rotate as indicated by directional arrows in FIG. 1. Roller 24 is powered by the rotation of shaft 34 which is connected to main drive shaft 36 through sheaves 54 and 55 and drive belt 62. Roller 25 is powered by the rotation of shaft 35 which is connected to main drive shaft 37 through sheaves 52 and 53 and drive belt 61. Each roller, 24 and 25, has a plurality of flutes or ribs 26 on its external surface. Fluted rollers 24 and 25 are slidably or movably supported by bearings 89 and 91 mounted in track 93 to allow for movement of the rollers away from and toward each other. The amount or distance that the rollers are allowed to move is predetermined and limited by the type and size of tobacco stalks that are being processed. Track 93 is attached by any convenient conventional type of connection with the frame or with a cross-member on the frame or-by any other well known type of connection.

Shafts 36 and-37 are also attached to frame through connecting devices 95 and 97.

Power source is also supported by attachment to frame 99 or to some other well known type of suitable fixed structure.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cured tobacco plant defoliating device is fabricated in such a manner that a stalk of cured tobacco may be introduced to the invention for processing by a guide conveyor belt device similar to that shown in FIG'. 2. The conveyor belt device would provide vertical centering of the tobacco stalk so that the leading end of the stalk will enter the notched areas 22b, 22b of the wiper assemblies L and R. The tobacco stalks may also be fed to the device by hand.'lnitially the tobacco stalk is introduced between powered guide rollers and 21 which as previously noted rotate toward each other. Thus moving surfaces are provided to center the leading end of the stalk and not disturb the orientation of the leaves which point toward the lead termination of the stalk. I

As shown in FIG. 2, upon passing through and somewhat beyond the rotating guide rollers 20 and 21, the stalk enters the defoliation region. This region, as shown in FIG. 1, is comprised of two assemblies designated L and R. Both assemblies are mechanically alike, but differ only in their relative rotational directions. Assembly L rotates clockwise and assembly R rotates counter-clockwise. Thus they rotate in opposition to each other. Each assembly is comprised of a plurality of wipers 22 and each wiper has on its outer edge and on center a notch describing 180 designated 22b. This I may be clearly seen in FIG. 1 and more clearly seen in FIG. 3a. As shown in FIG. 3b a 360 circle is formed when the edges of two opposing wipers nearly touch. This is a typical condition as both wiper assemblies L and R are completely synchronized through the positive drive means from shaft 36 and 37. The wipers22 may be fabricated of a tough, resilient polymer, or a metal such as steel or a metal alloy. The wipers 22 may be an integral part of or joined to sleeve 23. Upon entering the region described by notches 22b the tobacco leaves to be removed are displaced from their position which is parallel with the stalk and with their pointed terminal ends pointing in opposition to the rotation of the assemblies L and R by the opposing and synchronized rotation of L and R. This is clearly seen in FIG.

2. The leaves now having been spread away from their aforementioned position against the stalk are as shown in FIG. 4, wiped or severed away from their point of former securement to the stalk by the action of the succeeding wiper in the course of rotation.

Since guide rollers 20 and 21 are spring loaded by equal forces F and F as shown in FIG. 2, and since the left wiper blade assembly and the left guide roller are supported from one cantilever and the right wiper blade assembly and right guide roller are supported from another cantilever, the notches 22b can remove leaves from the entire diameter of a stalk as a plurality of stalk diameters can be accomodated by the notches with the described type of mechanical arrangement. After being severed from the stalk, the leaves fall to either side of the defoliating apparatus.

During the course of defoliation the stalk being processed is grasped by fluted rollers 24 and 25 which rotate'toward each other as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The traction of the flutes or ribs 26 on both rollers 24 and 25 aid in drawing the stalk through the defoliation stage. Terminally the fluted rollers 24 and 25 cause the defoliated stalk to be ejected at the rear of the invention for collection. As previously noted, fluted rollers 24 and 25 are slidably supported by bearings 89 and 91 mounted in track 93. They are also spring loaded by equal forces F and F as shown in FIG. 2, to accommodate stalks of different sizes.

We claim:

1. A cured tobacco leaf stripper, comprising:

a. a frame;

b. a first cantilever member pivotally mounted to said frame;

c. a second cantilever member pivotally mounted to said frame;

d. a first pair of vertical shafts, one of said shafts journalled by appropriate connecting means to the first cantilever member and the other of said shafts journalled by appropriate connecting means to the second'cantilever member, said first pair of vertical shafts being connected near the terminal ends of the cantilever members;

e.a pair of guide rollers'forguiding the cured tobacco stalk and leaves into the apparatus, one of said rollers attached to each of said first pair of vertical shafts;

f. means operatively mounted with said first pair of shafts for rotating the shafts in opposite directions;

g. a second pair of vertical shafts, one of said shafts journalled by appropriate connecting means to the first cantilever member and the other of said shafts journalled by appropriate connecting means to the second cantilever member, said second pair of shafts being connected to the cantilevers approximately one-third of the distance from the terminal ends to the pivot connections;

h. a pair of wiper blade assemblies for stripping the tobacco leaves from the stalk, one of said assemblies attached to each of said second pair or vertical shafts;

i. means operatively associated with said second pair of shafts for rotating the shafts in opposite directions;

j. a track member having slidable bearings within the track, said track being fixedly mounted to the aforesaid frame;

k. a third pair of vertical shafts journalled to the bearings in the track member; v

l. a pair of fluted rollers for moving the stripped tobacco stalk out of the defoliating region of the apparatus, one of said fluted rollers attached to each of said third pair of vertical shafts;

m. means operatively associated with said third pair of shafts for rotating the shafts in opposite directions;

2. The cure tobacco leaf stripper of claim 1 wherein the cantilever members are spring loaded.

3. The cured tobacco leaf stripper of claim 1 wherein each wiper blade assembly has a plurality of wiper blades and each wiper blade has a semicircular notch centrally located on its cutting edge.

4. The cured tobacco leaf stripper of claim 2 wherein the rotation of the wiper blade assemblies is synchronized.

5. Apparatus for removing leaves from stalks of cured tobacco, comprising:

a. a frame;

b. a first cantilever member pivotally mounted to said frame and having a generally horizontally disposed said frame and having a generally horizontally disposed pivotted arm and a generally vertically disposed roller means and defoliating means, said arm being generally disposed parallel to the arm of said frist cantilever member, and said roller means and said defoliating means being adjacent to and so positioned in relation to the aforementioned roller means and defoliating means of the first cantilever member that the cured tobacco stalks from which the leaves are being removed passes between and is guided by the two roller means into the area of the two defoliating means for removal of the leaves from the stalks;

d. a track means connected to the frame;

e. a pair of fluted roller means slidably attached to said track means, said fluted roller and track means being so positioned in relation to the defoliating means that the defoliated stalk is grasped between the fluted roller means and removed from the apparatus;

f. means operatively associated with the apparatus for rotating the guide roller means, the defoliating means and the fluted roller means.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the cantilever members are spring loaded. 

1. A cured tobacco leaf stripper, comprising: a. a frame; b. a first cantilever member pivotally mounted to said frame; c. a second cantilever member pivotally mounted to said frame; d. a first pair of vertical shafts, one of said shafts journalled by appropriate connecting means to the first cantilever member and the other of said shafts journalled by appropriate connecting means to the second cantilever member, said first pair of vertical shafts being connected near the terminal ends of the cantilever members; e. a pair of guide rollers for guiding the cured tobacco stalk and leaves into the apparatus, one of said rollers attached to each of said first pair of vertical shafts; f. means operatively mounted with said first pair of shafts for rotating the shafts in opposite directions; g. a second pair of vertical shafts, one of said shafts journalled by appropriate connecting means to the first cantilever member and the other of said shafts journalled by appropriate connecting means to the second cantilever member, said second pair of shafts being connected to the cantilevers approximately one-third of the distance from the terminal ends to the pivot connections; h. a pair of wiper blade assemblies for stripping the tobacco leaves from the stalk, one of said assemblies attached to each of said second pair or vertical shafts; i. means operatively associated with said second pair of shafts for rotating the shafts in opposite directions; j. a track member having slidable bearings within the track, said track being fixedly mounted to the aforesaid frame; k. a third pair of vertical shafts journalled to the bearings in the track member; l. a pair of fluted rollers for moving the stripped tobacco stalk out of the defoliating region of the apparatus, one of said fluted rollers attached to each of said third pair of vertical shafts; m. means operatively associated with said third pair of shafts for rotating the shafts in opposite directions;
 2. The cure tobacco leaf stripper of claim 1 wherein the cantilever members are spring loaded.
 3. The cured tobacco leaF stripper of claim 1 wherein each wiper blade assembly has a plurality of wiper blades and each wiper blade has a semicircular notch centrally located on its cutting edge.
 4. The cured tobacco leaf stripper of claim 2 wherein the rotation of the wiper blade assemblies is synchronized.
 5. Apparatus for removing leaves from stalks of cured tobacco, comprising: a. a frame; b. a first cantilever member pivotally mounted to said frame and having a generally horizontally disposed pivotted arm and a generally vertically disposed roller means and defoliating means; c. a second cantilever member pivotally mounted to said frame and having a generally horizontally disposed pivotted arm and a generally vertically disposed roller means and defoliating means, said arm being generally disposed parallel to the arm of said first cantilever member, and said roller means and said defoliating means being adjacent to and so positioned in relation to the aforementioned roller means and defoliating means of the first cantilever member that the cured tobacco stalks from which the leaves are being removed passes between and is guided by the two roller means into the area of the two defoliating means for removal of the leaves from the stalks; d. a track means connected to the frame; e. a pair of fluted roller means slidably attached to said track means, said fluted roller and track means being so positioned in relation to the defoliating means that the defoliated stalk is grasped between the fluted roller means and removed from the apparatus; f. means operatively associated with the apparatus for rotating the guide roller means, the defoliating means and the fluted roller means.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the cantilever members are spring loaded. 